Ziggy came to Hemel and took it all too far

The music world was left in mourning this week, when it was announced that David Bowie had died.

But did you know that Hemel Hempstead was host to the Thin White Duke when he played The Pavilion on May 7, 1972.

The show remains one of the most sought-after bootlegs of Bowie’s career, with a Ziggy-era band playing a 75-minute 18-song set featuring the classic Spiders From Mars line-up.

The World Of Bowie Bootlegs website praises the set, saying: “This show is one of the most sought-after. It was rumoured to be around in certain circles for quite a long time and only one song was open to a wider public until now: Gotta Get A Job. So I was really excited when I got it in a trade not so long ago.

“The show itself is really great and soundwise it is close to the Kingston Polytechnic from one day earlier.

“It’s simply another great document of the early Ziggy phase with powerful versions of Moonage Daydream (David shouting all his passion out) or Waiting For The Man with a mind-blowing guitar solo of Mick Ronson.

“Also he performs some tracks only present in the early Ziggy phase like I Feel Free or Gotta Get A Job/Hot Pants.”

> Were you among the audience when David Bowie came to Hemel Hempstead? Email thegazette@jpress.co.uk